Water or soda?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/4/2001 6:41:42 PM Eastern Standard Time,

Serious-Weight-Watchers writes:

> I also don't like water and drank too much diet soda. Then

> a woman (for some reason I trusted this total stranger)

> said that aspartame and formaldehydeare the same chemical

> composition and that THAT is why Diet Coke tastes so bitter

> after it expires. That stopped me from drinking Diet Coke.

> I went back to regular coke and gineger ale. I found that

> when I have a " real " coke, I don't even finish it always

> and certainly don't drink as much or as often.

>

Well, water is defiately the healthiest choice. I remember being told once

that if you are well hydrated, you burn 5% more calories - and I'll take what

I can get. If you are thirsty, then you're already dehydrated to a point.

As for soda, in general it's not a bad thing. Beware of the caffeinated

version, because it can dehydrate you without your knowledge. Caffeine is a

diuretic, and it pulls water from the tissues. It sounds good, but it slows

your weight loss. If you must drink diet soda, go for the caffeine free

version - it tastes about the same, and you eliminate one ill effect.

The other detriment to diet soda is the bubbles - carbination has an adverse

effect on some women. For me, if I drink it and don't get enough OTHER

fluid, I tend to get urinary tract infections (caffeine free or not). It's

something about the carbination irritating the tissues. Anyway, I make sure

I drink at least an equal amount of water as soda.

Regarding tea, the caffeine free version is essentially identical to water

(nutrient wise). After all, it IS water, with just some flavor added. There

is some evidence that green teas lower your cholesterol, so you may be able

to kill two birds with one stone.

I'm not against diet sweetners myself, but you're right about the

fermaldahyde issue - that's why you can't cook with nutrasweet. When it

decomposes with heat, it turns to a mild fermaldahyde. Never cook with

Equal. They have a new stuff - Splendor - that's fine for cooking.

I think the bottom line is balance - you can have your diet soda as long as

you drink water as well. WW recommends that at least 4 cups of your water be

actual WATER - as opposed to juice, soda, or tea. Beware of dehydration in

any case - as your body eliminates weight, keytones build up in your system.

They MUST be flushed out, or you will get sick. That's just fact. You need

plenty of fluids to flush away the " poison " , so to speak.

Water doesnt' make me full - it makes me hungry. It seems to flush the food

right through my system, and my stomach starts growling. Oh well - I still

need the water, so I have to deal with it. It really does make a difference,

though - so drink your water.

-Crys-